Flank charge on a pike block, whom may fight?

[mad lemmey]

Last night's almost row with Paul, we came to an amicable solution, but I don't want to feel dirty.
I contacted a (non-keil) pike block frontally, and simultaneous with another unit contacting base 3 of the ranks in the block.
As I had a frontal contact, once we got to melee, was Paul allowed to fight my flank attack with the third rank or are they locked into the front?
We said front only in the end, but I am still unsure.
Advice gladly accepted.
Will

[stuuk]

I believe that if the pike block wanted to count its full factors to the front, then it's busy.
If however, the pike chooses to fight two deep to the front, then the third man is no longer busy and can fight your flank charge (on black).

[badhabum]

I agree with Stuuk

[Simon Meg-Meister]

Yes you can fight it.
The issue is can he fight back.
That is his choice.
a) he can fight back 2 ranks deep, but then do not count them for ranks to the front (still a frontal fight).
b) you can choose not to fight back but instead use ranks 3/4 as + for the frontal fight.
All because a single base can only fight once in a phase.

So you defaulted to (b) which is fine as long as you still rolled for your attack.

Si